The Future of the Olympics: LA 28 and Beyond

As the Paris Olympics approach the halfway mark, attention turns to the next Games, which will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. The American city will host the Olympics for the third time, having previously hosted the 1932 and 1984 Games.

With every edition of the Olympics, certain core sports remain, such as athletics, swimming, cycling, and equestrianism. However, a number of disciplines have come and gone over the years, with some, like tug of war, consigned to the history books.

For LA 28, five sports that are not taking place in Paris have been approved for inclusion: flag football, squash, cricket, lacrosse, and breakdancing.

Flag Football and Squash

Flag football and squash will both make their Olympic debuts at LA 28. Flag football is a non-contact variation of American football, while squash is a racquet sport played in a four-walled court.

Squash has been a popular sport in the Commonwealth Games for many years, and its inclusion in the Olympics has been long-awaited. Flag football, on the other hand, is a relatively new sport, but it has quickly gained popularity around the world.

Cricket and Lacrosse

Cricket and lacrosse are both returning to the Olympics after long absences. Cricket was last included in the 1900 Games, while lacrosse was last played at the 1908 Games.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players each. It is particularly popular in South Asia, England, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Lacrosse is a team sport played with a stick and a ball. It is popular in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada.

Breakdancing

Breakdancing is a form of dance that originated in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s. It is characterized by its acrobatic moves and its focus on rhythm and coordination.

Breakdancing was added to the Olympics as part of the effort to make the Games more youthful and appealing to a wider audience. It will be interesting to see how this new sport is received by the Olympic community.

Sports Not Returning to LA 28

While five new sports have been added to the LA 28 program, there are also some sports that will not be returning from Paris.

The sports that have been dropped from the LA 28 program are:

Baseball
Softball
Karate
Skateboarding
Sport climbing

The decision to drop these sports was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in an effort to reduce the size of the Games and to make them more manageable.